Getting Here

Plan Your Visit

Contact

Get in Touch

Maps & Memories

Exploring how Ireland’s Ordnance Survey Shaped our Landscapes and Lives.

Maps & Memories is a 2 year community heritage project that marks 200 years since the first mapping survey began on Divis Mountain by the Ordnance Survey. These early efforts laid the foundations for how we understand land, ownership, identity & geography across the island today - with continued cultural, political & scientific significance.

In Partnership with

Maps & Memories is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Partner

Latest Project News

Upcoming Maps & Heritage Training Day!

Opening up the Map: Exploring Townlands, Place-Names & Landscapes as Cultural Heritage One-day workshop on Friday 22 May, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm   ‘Opening up the Map’ is a one-day CPD event showcasing the new digital tools, resources and insights emerging from the OS200, Maps and Memories, and Mapping Monuments projects. Designed for practitioners across heritage, culture, planning, landscape, museums, archives and the wider public sector, the course offers a practical introduction to historic Ordnance Survey maps, OS Name Books, place-name sources and linked collections. Incorporating hands-on sessions, reflective discussion and opportunities for networking, the course supports skills development, shared learning and engagement with digital map-based heritage. This class will take place on QUB campus

Featured events

View All View All

Mapping Minnowburn: Heritage, Art & Walking Tour

Discover the heritage of Ireland's Ordnance Survey on a unique plein air drawing and walking tour along the Lagan with artist Mhairi Sutherland.

Friday 7th August

TICKETS FREE

View Event

Maps & Memories News

Free Map Making Workshops for N.I Schools!

From May to June we are offering free creative map making workshops for schools in and around the Belfast Hills. This is the perfect way to learn about local heritage and to get creative by making your very own map! We will be continuing our school outreach in September, so get in touch to find out more: info@nisciencefestival.com

More Events Here More Events Here

Project Highlight

Maps & Memories at NI Science Festival 2026!

As part of this year's NI Science Festival, we marked 200 years since the Ordnance Survey began their mapping of Ireland with a series of Maps & Memories events. From hands-on workshops to guided trig point tours, we had a great time exploring how historical OS maps can help us better understand today's landscapes. Missed out on our NI Science Festival events? We will have a number of guided walks coming up this Spring and Summer. To keep up to date or to find out more about our project, contact us at: info@nisciencefestival.com

More Events Here More Events Here

Project Highlight

Benchmark Trail launched in Belfast and Derry-Londonderry for NI Science Festival 2026!

As part of NI Science Festival 2026, there are three Benchmark Maps available to pick up from various venues across Belfast and Derry-Londonderry. Benchmarks were used by the Ordnance Survey to mark points where the height above sea level has been accurately measured. There were over nineteen thousand benchmarks in Northern Ireland, but these are slowly disappearing. The Benchmark Trails show some of the remaining locations of benchmarks, but some are still yet to be found and many are left unprotected. Pick up one of the benchmark trails and share what you find by sending your photographs to us at info@nisciencefestival or on Instagram using #maps_memories For digital copies of our Benchmark Trails, please contact the NI Science Festival team at: info@nisciencefestival.com Printed copies are available at Visit Belfast, Visit Derry, 2 Royal Avenue Belfast and Ulster Museum.

More Events Here More Events Here

Project Highlight

Minnowburn Ramble with Prof. Keith Lilley of Queen's University Belfast & the National Trust Belfast

On Friday 28th of November, Professor Keith Lilley of Queen's University Belfast joined the National Trust Belfast team and NI Science Festival for a 'Minnowburn Ramble'. Thank you to everyone who joined us as we wandered the woodland trails, chatted all things maps and heritage, and even discovered another Belfast benchmark! Missed out on this guided walk? We’ll soon be sharing a full programme of events as part of NI Science Festival 2026 with plenty more chances to get involved in our project Maps & Memories.

More Events Here More Events Here

Maps & Memories Oral History Collection

Do you have a story to share about the history of the Ordnance Survey in your area? Then get in touch!

Over the next two years, we will be recording people’s stories of the Ordnance Survey and their personal connections to Divis, Black Mountain and Slieve Donard. These recordings will form part of a new digital archive created at the end of the project and shared online to help raise awareness of the impact and legacy of the Ordnance Survey’s first detailed mapping of Ireland, undertaken 200 years ago. If you’d like to share your story, or if you’re interested in volunteering opportunities to support our oral history collection, please contact: info@nisciencefestival.com

What will this project involve?

More Information Here More Information Here

Oral history collection from local communities, walkers, retired surveyors, and people with memories of living and working near these mountains.

Talks, guided walks, and outdoor events, including a series of events as part of future NI Science Festival programmes.

Creative workshops, exhibitions and public art, encouraging reflection on place, history, and identity.

"Maps and Memories taps into a very exciting and important topic which always resonates strongly with local communities interested in exploring heritage on our doorstep. Maps are a great way to understand the places where we live, for drawing out memories about life in the past and sharing these for future generations. Here at Queen's, our expertise in heritage and mapping will play a role in supporting 'Maps and Memories', and we look forward to working with the project's partners and our local communities."

Project Partner, Professor Keith Lilley of Queen's University Belfast

“Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland is delighted to support this National Lottery-funded project, which reflects on the rich history of surveying and mapping while showcasing our current technologies. Maps tell stories, define journeys, empower informed decision-making, and serve as powerful tools that help people connect with the world around them which makes this an exciting project to be involved with ."

Project Partner, Suzanne McLaughlin of Ordnance Survey NI

Many More

More events are right around the corner

View All Events View All Events

Take Part In The Benchmark Trail!

Have you seen a benchmark in your local area? Share it with us!

There are many traces of the Ordnance Survey in our landscapes and city, but it's not all about trig point! Benchmarks were used by the Ordnance Survey to mark points where the height above sea level has been accurately measured. Some benchmarks date all the way back to 1831, but most of the benchmarks in Northern Ireland date form the 1950s and 60s. There were over nineteen thousand benchmarks in Northern Ireland, but these are slowly disappearing. Will you take part in our #benchmarktrail and help us map as many benchmarks as possible? Share a photo with us on Instagram using #benchmarktrail or email your image to: info@nisciencefestival.com